[Anatomic characteristics of the mastoid in children. Pneumatization of the subfacial region].

Three specific features of the mastoid in the pediatric population appeared to us to be important in view of our per-operative findings on mastoidectomy for chronic suppurative otitis, cholesteatoma or middle ear effusion with chronic persistent mastoiditis in the older child. These included the position of the facial nerve, the superficial nature of its third part being well known, but also the existence of the Körner septum and especially the pneumatization of the sub-facial region which explains the similarity between certain infectious lesions of the retro-tympanic structures and infectious lesions of the anterior portion of the mastoid process. An experimental study of staining of preserved petrous bones in the adult enabled the sub-facial permeability of the mastoid to be demonstrated in certain cases. Awareness of these small details should help to avoid per or post-operative complications in surgery for chronic otitis media in children.